Adhesive applying device



Nov. 17, 1959 F. w. SHOWALTER 2,912,959

ADHESIVE APPLYING DEVICE Filed June 9, 1955 0 25 INVENTOR FRANK w. SHOWALTER vc/zvk United States Patent ADHESIVE APPLYING DEVICE Frank W. Showalter, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The American Envelope Company, West Carrollton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 9, 1955, Serial No. 514,277

2 Claims. (Cl. 118-5) The present invention relates to an adhesive applying device and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally there is provided an adhesive applying device which may be easily attached to a conventional rotary type envelope making machine and which essen- ,tially consists of abracket arm upon which is adjustably mounted a block having a groove in one end thereof in which groove an applicator wheel is adapted to have its peripheral portion pass when the machine is in operation. The applicator wheel is knurled and is adapted .to transfer adhesive from the block to selected portions of envelopes passing through the envelope making maapplied to selected portions of the envelopes passing .through themachinewithout sporadic excess of adheslve which may be pressed or squeezed outwardly, as for example, from the center seam or end flap, and thereby cause the completed envelopes to objectionally adhere to one another.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a novel adhesive applying device for use with an envelope making machine or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel means for applying adhesive at a selected temperature.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in

'a device of the character set forth, a novel applicator wheel forming a part of the invention.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel adjustable feed block for an applicator wheel, said feed block forming a part of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel means for applying an even amount of adhesive on the center seam and end flap of an envelope so that a substantially complete edge seal is effected without hitherto objectionable excess flow of adhesive to adjoining areas of the envelope during pressing operations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel means for circulating adhesive which substantially prevents exposure of the adhesive to the atmosphere, thereby substantially eliminating aeration, foaming and/or quick drying of the adhesive during operation of the device.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of an embodiment of the invention showing the same mounted upon a portion of an envelope making machine,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary schematic view illustrating a means for supplying adhesive at a constant temperature.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein a portion of an envelope making machine generally indicated at 10 and to which is attached by means of bolts 11 an arm 12 having an upwardly extending outer portion 13 in which is centrally provided a longitudinally extending slot 14.

An applicator wheel or roll 16, having a knurled peripheral face 17, is mounted for rotation as indicated on shaft 15.

A block 18 which may be termed a scraper block is provided with a stud 19 which extends through the slot 14 and is provided with a nut 20 at its outer end.

jchine. The block is provided'with a novel interior pas- .sageway which connects with the groove for the knurled wheel and is provided with an inlet opening and an out- A washer 21is interposed between the nut 20 and the extended portion 13 of the arm 12.

The block 18 is provided with a transverse slot 22 for :the reception therein of the peripheral portion of the applicator wheel 16. Formed in the interior of the block 18 and communicating at one of its ends with the slot 22 is a passageway 23 which also communicates 30 .with an inlet opening 24 and an outlet opening 25.;

Referring now to Figure 4 of the drawing, it will be seen that there is provided an adhesive or glue reservoir .26 having a pipe 27 communicating with a pump 28 with respect to the reservoir 26 to provide a means for heating the contents thereof and is connected by suitable wiring 32 to 'a source of electrical energy indicated at 33. A thermostat 34 and switch 35 are also indicated in the schematic showing and may be placed in any conventional manner with respect to the reservoir 26 whereby to maintain the contents thereof at a given selected temperature.

Affixed to the outer end portion of the arm .13 is a block 36 and a screw 37 extends threadably through the block 36 and bears against the outer end of the scraper block 18. A dog 38 is afiixed to one side of the arm 13 and a bearing block 39 is aflixed to one side of the scraper block 18 and has extending threadably therethrough a screw 40 which is adapted to bear against the dog 38.

Referring again to Figure 1, numeral 41 designates a finger holder which may be suitably secured to arm 12. To holder 41, a plurality of fingers 42 are aifixed by any suitable means, such as welding orsoldering, the number of fingers utilized depending on the width of the adhesive or glue line desired. Fingers 42 are preferably formed from a flexible yielding type wire and primarily function to support the portion of the envelope blank to which the adhesive is being applied. In contrast with a flexible blade structure, it has been found that fingers 42 do not gather adhesive from roll 16 dur ing adhesive operations.

In operation, it will be apparent that the adhesive is circulated in a substantially closed system as it is pumped, by means of the pump 28, through the pipe 29 from the pipe 27 and reservoir 26 to the passageway 23 and thence to the groove 22 where it is applied constantly to the outer peripheral knurled face 17 of the applicator wheel 16 and thereafter applied to selected portions of envelopes or the like passing through the machine 10.

It will also be seen that the adhesive in the reservoir is maintained at a constant temperature by means of the heating element 31 regulated by the thermostat 34 in conventional manner and that excessive glue or other adhesive is returned from the passageway" 23 through the return pipe 30 to the reservoir 26.

It will also be apparent that the position of the scraper block 18 with respect to the applicator wheel 16 maybe changed by loosening the nut 20 and the screws 37 and 40 at which time the block 18 will be allowed to pivot upon its stud 19 with respect to the arm 13 and the wheel 16. It will also be apparent that by selectively moving inwardly the screws 37 and 40 that the angular relation of the block 18 with respect to the arm 13 may be varied, and that the block may then be locked in such selected position by means of the nut 20. Thus the coating of adhesive or the like which is applied by means of the scraper block may be varied in thickness as desired and hence the application of such adhesive from the wheel 17 to the envelopes or the like going through the machine may be varied to secure the utmost desirable thickness thereon.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. i i

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a mounting arm, an applicator wheel revolubly mounted on said arm, work supporting fingers secured tosaid arm, a scraper block mounted on said am exteriorly of said wheel and having a transverse groove for the reception of the peripheral portion of said applicator wheel, and means for supplying fluid adhesive at constant temperature to said groove, said means comprising a closed passageway formed in said block and communicating with said groove, said scraper block having an inlet and an outlet opening communicating with said passageway, an adhesive reservoir, a supply pipe extending from said reservoir to said inlet opening, a return pipe extending from said outlet opening to said 4 reservoir, a pump in said supply line, said passageway in said block interconnecting the inlet and outlet openings whereby a wholly confined and unimpeded flow of fluid adhesive is provided, an electrical heating element associated with said reservoir, and a thermostat for con trolling said heating element.

2. A device of the character described comprising a mounting arm, an applicator wheel revolubly mounted on said arm, work supporting fingers secured to said arm and tangential to said applicator wheel, a scraper block mounted on said arm exteriorly of said wheel and having a transverse groove for the reception of the peripheral portion of said applicator wheel, means for supplying fiuid adhesive to said groove, and means for varying the angular relation between said scraper block and said applicator wheel, said last-mentioned means including a stud afiixed to said scraper block, said arm having a longitudinal slot and said stud extending therethrough, a nut threaded on the outer end of said stud, a bearing block affixed to the outer end portion of said arm, a screw extending through said bearing block and bearing against the outer end of said scraper block, a dog affixed to one side of said scraper block, a second bearing block afiixed to' one 'side of said scraper block, and a screw extending through said second bearing block and bearing against said dog.

References Cited in the file of patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

